Sears said on Thursday its chairman Eddie Lampert won a bankruptcy auction for the U.S. department store chain with an improved takeover bid of $5.2 billion, allowing the 126-year-old retailer to keep its doors open.

​Primark saw higher sales in the 16 weeks to January 5, but its comp sales dipped, so it’s clear that even the strongest retailers are facing challenging times, even though it won market share and protected margins.

Sterling Jewelers Inc has agreed to pay $11 million in fines to settle charges by U.S. and New York regulators that it signed up consumers for store credit cards and credit insurance without permission.

The brand’s co-founder tells FashionNetwork.com about the evolution of its strategy, marked by fewer store openings, investment in digital, stock management and its new design team after returning to family ownership.